Following a rather tearful bon voyage the flight over was uneventful. The 5 hour layover in Frankfurt passed (somewhat) quickly. I arrived in Paris on time and (miraculously) with all of my luggage. Had to cut my phone call home short as I was approached by 3 well-armed guards. In an effort to shield my computer bag from would-be thieves, I hid it away under the phone bank. Its curious location in relation to the rest of my luggage alerted the guards who then sought to determine ownership of the bag. That issue settled I headed to the train station via a free shutlle. After waiting in line 15 minutes I was informed by the ticket seller that they only sold tickets to Paris but that I could buy a ticket to Bourges when I got there. Ok, no problem. So I pull out my euro traveler's check. Problem. They don't take traveler's checks and their credit card machine was broken. So I stood in line 10 minutes at a ticket machine only to learn it was busted too (so what was everyone standing in line for????) Another 10 minutes in line at a different machine only to learn it doesn't accept visa. So much for « everywhere you want to be. » So now here I am, hot, exhausted, with no ticket and no way of getting one. But wait, that friendly couple from Arkansas who I befriended while waiting in the broken machine line was about to approach the ticket window. Five minutes later I had $10 less in my pocket and a ticket to Paris in my hand. Now to figure out at which station to disembark. Unfortunately the guy at the information booth wasn't sure he'd ever heard of Bourges let alone knew at which station to switch. The Californian couple I sat with on the train/metro were getting off at Chatelet-Les Halles and offered to help me get my stuff off. So I thought to myself, « Chatelet it is! » Come to find out Chatelet was not where I needed to be. I was able to buy a train ticket there but needed to make 2 metro transfers to get to Gare Austerlitz. Taking my first train ever I finally arrived in Bourges around 9 pm, 21 hours after boarding the plane in Detroit. After spending 5 minutes walking in the rain, I gave up my search for the hostel and headed back to the hotels across from the train station, choosing the cheaper of the two. The next morning I set out again in search of the hostel, this time with directions in hand. After a 7 minute uphill hike I found the place...and learned they were booked for the weekend. Back to the hotels by the train station. Not wanting to seem like a dumb American tourist I checked into the slightly more expensive (but nicer) hotel. I spent 2 nites there and have now moved on to a slightly cheaper hotel, once again lugging nearly 100 pounds of luggage through the streets of Bourges. One thing I've learned so far is that those little wheels on the luggage will only get you so far. They are of little help going up and down stairs. So what are some of the oh-so-essential items I packed (besides 3 seasons worth of clothes)?
My drawing supplies (those of you familiar with my artistic abilities are probably laughing right now)
Oke-Doke cheese popcorn: a must-have
Jell-O: I heard they don't have it here
My Scooby Doo clothed feather pillow : no explanation necessary
Unfortunately I didn't have room for my Reese's PB Cups; who would have thought PB was an exotic food?!?!
